It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas …
As you’ll remember from a previous post, I encounter seasonal blues on an annual basis for a variety of reasons.
I’m not the type of person to be defined by depression. It’s an illness that I am being treated for, it’s something I deal with (with varying degrees of success) but I refuse for it to be something that I am defined by.
I’ve been working on various CBT techniques over the last couple of years and have discovered that one of the very best things I can do for my own wellbeing is to ensure that I carve out time to spend doing the things that make me smile, no matter how demotivated I feel, how tired, how disinterested … if I force myself to do these things I do feel slightly elevated.
Inspired Memories
One evening in the week, I was looking at my Nanny’s vintage buttons and I decided to repurpose some of them on a couple of decorations for the Christmas tree.
There are a handful of things that I love about Christmas, or December more specifically.
1. Mulled wine/cider/juice.
2. Christmas decorations/lights.
3. Christmas/winter crafts.
4. Wrapping gifts.
5. Short days and long nights = cosy!
Kitsch Paper Chains
This morning, when I was lying on my bed wishing that the world would just carry on without me for a bit, I made the decision to rebel against my desires, and to get up and make paper chains with my youngest.
The Handiwork of My Offspring
It wasn’t a magic cure, I am not suddenly brimming with energy and full of Christmas spirit. But the making of paper chains lead to the completion of a little felt gingerbread girl that my little lady embarked on last year, and that lead to the baking of flapjack for the week’s lunch boxes, which in turn lead to the construction and decoration of the gingerbread house. At this moment, the fragrant smell of oranges drying in the oven is wafting through the house, combined with the spicy scent of the gingerbread … it’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas.
Seasonal Scents
